Should You Downsize Your Santa Cruz Home?

There are many reasons to consider downsizing your Santa Cruz home. Obviously, if the kids have left the nest, or you’re recently widowed or divorced, moving to a smaller home can simplify your life in many ways. But even if the size of your household has not changed, there are still benefits to living in a smaller house.

• Maintenance will be easier. Take a lesson from monks: The more possessions you have, the more demands they make on you. It’s no different with your Santa Cruz home. It’s easier to clean 1,000 square feet than 3,000 square feet or more. The more plumbing you have, the more chances that something will go wrong with it. The bigger your roof, the more expensive it is to replace, and so on.

• It’s easier to age in a small home. Small homes tend to be only one story. As we get older (and we all are), it’s nice to not have to climb the stairs every day. You may even find a one-story home that has no stairs to negotiate outside, making it wheelchair-accessible.

• Small homes are cheaper to heat and cool. Energy prices increase all the time and always will. While it’s important to have good insulation and tight windows, all things being equal, the smaller your square footage, the lower your utility bills.

• Insurance will be cheaper. The size of your home is one of the main factors determining how much your home insurance costs.

• Taxes will be lower. Again, property taxes are based partly on the square footage of your Santa Cruz home.

While you may not be ready to move into a tiny home, it’s worth considering the benefits of living in a smaller Santa Cruz home. If you want to explore the possibilities, call me at 831.662.6522 or email me at Lauren@LaurenSpencer.com.

About Lauren Spencer

Award-Winning Santa Cruz REALTOR®

Lauren Spencer is your local real estate expert, specializing in Santa Cruz real estate and surrounding communities—this is where she lives, works, and plays too. Let her know your questions about the community and county and she'll be happy to fill you in on all you want to know! Lauren Spencer has consistently been voted best local REALTOR in Santa Cruz and is always happy to offer her advice and expertise. Call her at: 800.226.4717.